Paddle

ABSTRACT

A paddle has a first shaft portion with a handle and a second shaft portion with a blade. The first and second shaft portions are telescopically engageable to provide a variable length paddle shaft. The shaft portions include engager connection features and engageable connection features that cooperate for selectively securing the handle and the blade in at least two different rotational orientations. The shaft portions also include two 90-degree offset locking cams that rotate between locked and unlocked conditions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The current invention relates to a paddle, and more particularly to an adjustable length paddle shaft.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Paddle sports such as dragon-boating, outrigger canoeing and stand-up paddle-boards (SUP) have become increasingly popular and competitive giving rise to an increased demand for ergonomically designed and customizable paddles. In many instances paddle grip dynamics change depending on the physical characteristics of the paddler and the paddling conditions. In the case of SUPs for example the stance of the paddler on the board changes with wind and sea conditions which in turn changes the arm position and distance relative to each other and the water. It is advantageous to have a paddle which is not only collapsible (to an extent) for transport and storage, but which is adjustable to suit individual paddling conditions which may vary from day to day or during a day's paddle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a paddle comprising:

-   -   a first shaft portion,     -   a blade located at a distal end of the first shaft portion,     -   a second shaft portion telescopically engaging with the first         shaft portion, the first and second shaft portions together         providing a variable length paddle shaft, the first and second         shaft portions being rotatable between locked and unlocked         conditions, and     -   a handle connected with a proximal end of the second shaft, and         -   engager connection features for cooperating with the             engageable connection features for selectively securing the             handle and the blade in at last two possible rotational             orientations.

Preferably, the handle is rotatably connected with a proximal end of the second shaft, wherein the second shaft portion has the engageable connection features and the handle has the engager connection features for cooperating with the engageable connection features.

Preferably, the first and second plurality of teeth are triangular teeth, or square teeth.

Preferably, the handle and second shaft portion are biased in a first axial position towards each other and are movable to a second axial position away from each other.

Preferably, the engageable connection features cooperate with the engager connection features in the first axial position.

Preferably, the engageable connection features do not cooperate with the engager connection features in the second axial position, the handle being rotatable with respect to the second shaft portion when the engageable connection features do not cooperate with the engager connection features.

Preferably, the handle is rotatable in both a clockwise and an anticlockwise direction with respect to the second shaft portion when the engageable connection features do not cooperate with the engager connection features.

Preferably, the handle is rotatable through 360 degrees with respect to the second shaft portion when the engageable connection features do not cooperate with the engager connection features.

Preferably, the handle includes a pin extending into an interior of the second shaft portion, and further including a resiliently deformable member extending between a distal end of the pin and the proximal end of the second shaft portion, the resiliently deformable member biasing the handle and second shaft portion in the first axial position towards each other.

Preferably, the resiliently deformable member is a spring, or an elastic bush.

Preferably, the engageable connection features are on an engageable disk fixed to the proximal end of the second shaft portion.

Preferably, the engager connection features are on an engager disk fixed to the distal end of the handle.

Preferably, the handle is a paddle T-handle, or a palm-grip handle.

Preferably, the handle and second shaft portion are movable to the second axial position away from each other by means of a user gripping the shaft in a first hand and the handle in a second hand and pulling the handle and second shaft portion away from each other.

Preferably, the paddle further includes a cam locking arrangement located within one or both of the first and second shaft portions, the cam providing the rotatable locked and unlocked conditions of the first and second shaft portions.

Preferably, the there are two series cam locking means offset from one another by 90 degrees.

Preferably, the second handle portion telescopically locates within an interior of the first shaft portion.

Preferably, in the unlocked condition the first and second shaft portions are axial movable in a telescopic manner, and in the locked condition the first and second shaft portions are not axial movable in a telescopic manner.

Preferably, the paddle is a paddleboard paddle.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a paddle system comprising a paddle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the paddle is adapted to be setup by a user according to a method comprising:

gripping the first shaft portion in a first hand and the second shaft portion in a second hand, moving the first and second shaft portions away from each other to extend the paddle shaft, rotating the first shaft portion with respect to the second shaft portions and thereby axially locking the paddle shaft in an extended condition, and then

gripping the second shaft portion in a first hand and the handle in a second hand, moving the handle and second shaft portion away from each other, rotating the handle to a desired alignment with a paddle blade, moving the handle and second shaft portion towards each other and/or releasing the handle and second shaft portion.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of setting up a paddle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the paddle is adapted to be setup by a user, the method comprising:

gripping the first shaft portion in a first hand and the second shaft portion in a second hand, moving the first and second shaft portions away from each other to extend the paddle shaft, rotating the first shaft portion with respect to the second shaft portions and thereby axially locking the paddle shaft in an extended condition, and then

gripping the second shaft portion in a first hand and the handle in a second hand, moving the handle and second shaft portion away from each other, rotating the handle to a desired alignment with a paddle blade, moving the handle and second shaft portion towards each other and/or releasing the handle and second shaft portion.

The above aspects are not limiting and further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the attached drawings there is shown various features of a paddle according to the invention as described below and claimed.

FIG. 1 is a front illustration of a paddle,

FIG. 2 is a side illustration of the paddle,

FIG. 3 is a first illustration of an adjustable handle connection for the paddle,

FIG. 4 is a second illustration of the adjustable handle connection for the paddle,

FIG. 5 is an exploded illustration of the adjustable handle connection for the paddle,

FIG. 6 an illustration of a cam-lock system for two telescoping portions of the paddle handle,

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a cam body of the cam-lock system,

FIG. 8 is a side illustration of a cam body of the cam-lock system,

FIG. 9 is a section illustration through ‘A’ of FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a section illustration through ‘B’ of FIG. 8,

FIG. 11 is a bottom illustration of a can ring of the cam-lock system,

FIG. 12 is a side illustration of the cam ring,

FIG. 13 is a top illustration of the cam ring,

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective illustration of the cam ring,

FIG. 15 is a top perspective illustration of the cam ring,

FIG. 16 is an illustration of operation of the cam-lock system,

FIG. 17 is an illustration of an alternative adjustable handle connection for the paddle,

FIG. 18 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of a combined adjustable handle connection and cam-lock system for the paddle, and

FIG. 19 is an illustration of the combined system of FIG. 18 for two telescoping portions of the paddle handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is given by way of example only to illustrate the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of use or functionality of the invention. In particular, the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

In the drawings there is shown, a paddle 10 having a paddle shaft comparing a first shaft portion 11 and a second shaft portion 12. A paddle blade 14 is located at a distal end 15 of the first shaft portion 11. A handle 17 is rotatably connected with a proximal end 16 of the second shaft 12. Each shaft portion is a hollow tubular shaft portion having a cylindrical shaft wall. The first shaft portion 11 has an inner wall diameter slightly larger than an outer wall diameter of the second shaft portion 12 such that the distal end 14 of second shaft portion 12 is telescopically receivable within the proximal end 13 of the first shaft portion 11. The telescopically engaged shaft portions 11, 12 allow the handle length to be changed between a longer use configuration and a shorter storage configuration. A locking cam is located at the distal end 14 of second shaft portion 12 for longitudinally locking the relative positions of the two shaft portions 11, 12. The locking cam longitudinally secures the two shaft portions 11, 12 when one shaft portion is axially rotated relative to the other shaft portion in a first direction, and the locking cam longitudinally releases the two shaft portions 11, 12 when the one shaft portion is axially rotated relative to the other shaft portion in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the second shaft portion 12 has axially arranged engageable connection features 21 at its distal end 16 and the handle 17 has a cavity in which is located corresponding axial engager connection features 20 for cooperating with the engageable connection features 21 for selectively securing the handle 17 and the second shaft 12 in at least two possible rotational orientations. The engageable connection features 21 is a plug 22 located within the proximal end of the second shaft portion 12 and having a first axial surface on which are provided by forming or machining or other known means a plurality of teeth. The engager connection features 20 is a disk 23 located within the axial cavity of the handle and having a second axial surface on which are provided by forming or machining or other known means a second plurality of teeth. The second plurality of teeth is meshable or optionally interlockable with the first plurality of teeth for selectively securing the handle 17 and the second shaft 12 in the at last two possible rotational orientations. The first and second plurality of teeth are triangular teeth, or in an alternative embodiment they may be square teeth or any other similar engageable and engager features. Such an alternative embodiment of the teeth 20, 21 is shown in FIG. 19, in which the teeth are generally triangular shaped with a taper towards the distal end from the base end to facilitate easy and smoother inter-engagement of the teeth when rotated to a new rotational orientation.

The handle 17 and second shaft portion 12 are biased in a first axial position towards each other and are movable to a second axial position away from each other. The engageable connection features 21 cooperate with the engager connection features 20 in the first axial position, which is illustrated in FIG. 3. The engageable connection features 21 do not cooperate with the engager connection features 20 in the second axial position, which is illustrated in FIG. 4. The handle 17 is rotatable with respect to the second shaft portion 12 when the engageable connection features 21 do not cooperate with the engager connection features 20. The handle 17 is rotatable in both a clockwise and an anticlockwise direction with respect to the second shaft portion 12 and may be rotatable through 360 degrees.

The disk 23 of the engager connection features 20 and the plug 22 of the engageable connection features 21 have coaxial apertures 26, 27 aligning with the longitudinal axis of the handle 17 and second shaft portion 12. The handle 17 includes a pin 24 extending through the disk 23 aperture of the engager connection features 20 and also though the plug 22 aperture of the engageable connection features 21 and into an interior of the second shaft portion 12. The pin 24 has an axial hollow bore with a screw thread on its inner surface. A bolt 30 has a threaded shank 31 and head 32. The bolt 30 threadably engages with the pin bore 25 from within the second shaft portion 12. A resiliently deformable member 33 extends between the head 32 of the bolt 30 and an underside 28 of the plug surface. The resiliently deformable member biases the handle and second shaft portion in the first axial position towards each other. In the preferred embodiment the resiliently deformable member is a spring 33, or may be an elastic bush 60 as illustrated in FIG. 19 and discussed below.

In the preferred embodiment the engageable connection features 21 are on an engageable disk 22 fixed to the proximal end 16 of the second shaft portion 12 and the engager connection features 20 are on an engager disk 23 fixed to the distal end of the handle 17.

The handle 17 is a paddle T-handle, or a palm-grip handle.

The handle 17 and second shaft portion 12 are movable to the second axial position away from each other by means of a user gripping the shaft 12 in a first hand and the handle 17 in a second hand and pulling the handle 17 and second shaft portion 12 away from each other.

The paddle includes a cam locking arrangement located within one or both of the first and second shaft portions 11, 12. The cam provides the rotatable locked and unlocked conditions of the first and second shaft portions. The second handle portion 12 telescopically locates within an interior of the first shaft portion 11. In the unlocked condition the first and second shaft portions are axial movable in a telescopic manner, and in the locked condition the first and second shaft portions are not axial movable in a telescopic manner.

Referring to FIG. 6 through 16, the cam locking means comprises a cam body 40 and two 90-degree offset cam rings 41, 42 located in corresponding cam grooves 43, 44 of the cam body 40. The cam groves are in series, one after the other, along the cam body 40. The cam body comprises a plug portion 45 that secures within a hollow bore end 14 of the second shaft portion 12 and two offset cam grooves that are received within the proximal end of first shaft portion 11. Each cam groove has an inner cylindrical body 46, 47 about which a respective cam ring 41, 42 locates within the groove 43, 44. The cam body 40, cylindrical body 46 of first cam groove 43 and the cylindrical body 47 of second cam groove 44 all have respective axes that are eccentric from the other ones of the cam body 40, cylindrical body 46 of first cam groove 43 and the cylindrical body 47 of second cam groove 44. The position of the axis of the first cylindrical body 46 with respect to the axis of the cam body 40 is 90-degrees offset from the position of the axis of the second cylindrical body 47 with respect to the axis of the cam body 40. Within each cam groove is a stop 48, 49 that extends from the respective groove bed to the outer surface of the cam body 40. The position of stop 49 within second cam groove 44 is 90-degrees offset rotationally from the position of stop 48 within first cam groove 43. The cam grooves 43, 44 have different axes and 90-degree offset positions of stops 48, 49 such that the cam rings 41, 42 located within respective grooves 43, 44 are 90-degrees offset with respect to each other. That is, the first cam ring 41 within first cam groove 43 or rotationally 90-degrees offset from the second cam ring 42 within second cam groove 44. FIG. 9 is a section through the first cam groove 43 showing the offset position of the first groove body 46 and stop 48 relative to the cam body 40. FIG. 10 is a section through the second cam groove 44 showing the offset position of the second groove body 47 and stop 49 relative to the cam body 40.

The cam rings 41, 42 are identical although in-situ 90-degrees offset from each other. Each cam ring 41, 42 is a split-ring (split type ring) having an opening or gap 54 in the circular ring wall. The inner diameter 52 of the ring has an axis that is eccentric from the axis of the outer diameter of the ring such that the ring wall is thicker in cross section on one side of the ring than from the other side of the ring. The split or gap 54 in the ring 41, 42 is provided in the thicker side 50 of the cam ring, while the thinner side 51 of the ring 41, 42 is diametrically opposite the gap 54. The depth of the ring is stepped from wider at the thicker side 50 to narrower at the thinner side 51. The width transitions in a step to provide a shoulder 53 in the ring. When the cam rings 41, 42 are in-situ with respective cam grooves 43, 44 the narrower half of the ring 41, 42 is located in the portion of the groove 43, 44 of the stop 48, 49. As the cam rings 41, 42 rotate within their respective groove 43, 44 the shoulders 53 contact the stops 48, 49 such that the rings 41, 42 are limited in rotational movement within the grooves 43, 44 to approximately 180-degrees or in practice a little less than 180-degrees.

Rotation of one of the shaft portions 11, 12 with respect to the other shaft portion 11, 12 causes one or both of the cam rings 41, 42 to rotate within its cam groove until the wider portion 50 of the ring 41, 42 engages with the inner wall of the first shaft portion 11. As the shaft portions are further rotated the cam rings 41, 42 can rotate within their respective groove 43, 44 and compress due to the gap 54 until the wider portion 50 of the rings 41, 42 binds with the inner wall of the first shaft portion 11 locking the first and second shaft portions 11, 12 in their relative axial position. Rotation of one of the shaft portions 11, 12 with respect to the other shaft portion 11, 12 in an opposite direction causes the cam rings 41, 42 to unbind so that the two shaft portions can me moved relatively in the axial direction.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show a further alternative embodiment of the present invention where the engager connection features 20 and engageable connection features 21 are included in a combined piece with the cam locking means. In such an embodiment the engager and engageable connection features for aligning the paddle handle and blade are located at the distal end 14 of the second shaft portion 12 with the cam locking means. The engager connection features 20 are located with the plug 45 engaged within the bore end 14 of second handle portion 12. The engageable connection features 21 are provided on an upper end of the cam body 40. A bolt or rod 61 intends axially through the engager connection features 20 and engageable connection features 21 and cam body to a tensioning nut 62 engaged with the distal threaded end of the bolt 61. A resilient deformable compressible elastic bush 60 bush and washer 63 are provided between distal end of the cam body 40 and tensioning nut 62. The resiliently deformable bush 60 biases the engager connection features 20 and engageable connection features 21 in the first axial position towards each other, and compresses to allow the engager connection features 20 and engageable connection features 21 to be moved to the second axial position away each other so that the paddle handle and blade can be aligned after the cam locking means is tightened. An advantage of this alternative embodiment is that the tensioning nut 62 for the compressible biasing bush 60 is accessible if the handle portions 1, 12 are separated thus allowing users to dial in the tension themselves. Additionally parts can be left to dry out if wet and if the cam or engager part breaks they can be readily serviced by the user.

In the preferred embodiment the paddle is a stand-up paddle-board (SUP) paddle, but may be any collapsible type paddle. In some embodiments of the paddle the first shaft portion 11 is tapered on one axis between its proximal end 13 and distal and 15. The proximal end 13 of the shaft portion 11 is circular in cross-section and as the shaft portion 11 extends to the distal end 15 adjoining to the blade 14 the cross section tapers outwardly in one diameter so that at the distal end 15 the shaft is oval in cross section. The oval cross section at the distal end 15 has a narrower diameter that is the same as the diameter of the circular proximal end 13, and a second wider diameter that is 90-degrees from the narrower diameter. As the second shaft portion 12 is extended further into the first shaft portion 11 the cam rings 41, 42 might not tightly bind against the inner surface of the first shaft portion 11 at it wider diameter. The two shaft portions could only be axially locked by the cams in two rotational positions 180-degrees apart when the cam rings 41, 42 bind against the narrower diameter of the second shaft portion. In such an embodiment the two cam rings 4, 42 and grooves 43, 44 are provided 90-degrees offset as described above such that one or other of the cam rings 41, 42 binds with the coal shaft 11 at more relative rotational positions of the two positions 11, 12, say 90-degrees apart. Such 90-degree offset cam rings may also provide for improved cam-lock functionality in situations where the inner surface of the first shaft portion 11 has imperfections affecting binding of a single or aligned cam rings at some positions.

The paddle is adapted and provided to be setup by a user according to a method that includes gripping the first shaft portion in a first hand of the user and the second shaft portion in a second hand of the user and then moving the first and second shaft portions away from each other to extend the paddle shaft. Once in the desired extension, rotating the first shaft portion with respect to the second shaft portions and thereby axially locking the paddle shaft in an extended condition. Then the handle is aligned with the shaft by gripping the second shaft portion in a first hand of the user and the handle in a second hand of the user and moving the handle and second shaft portion away from each other. The handle can then be rotated to a desired alignment with a paddle blade and the handle and second shaft portion moved towards each other and/or released to lock the handle in portion. 

1. A paddle comprising: a first shaft portion, a blade located at a distal end of the first shaft portion, a second shaft portion telescopically engaging the first shaft portion, the first and second shaft portions together providing a variable length paddle shaft, the first and second shaft portions being rotatable between locked and unlocked conditions, a handle connected with a proximal end of the second shaft portion, and engager connection features for cooperating with engageable connection features for selectively securing the handle and the blade in at least two different rotational orientations.
 2. The paddle according to claim 1 wherein the handle is rotatably connected with a proximal end of the second shaft portion, the second shaft portion has the engageable connection features, and the handle has the engager connection features for cooperating with the engageable connection features.
 3. The paddle of claim 1 wherein the engageable connection features include a first plurality of teeth, the engager connection features include a second plurality of teeth, and the second plurality of teeth are interlockable with the first plurality of teeth for selectively securing the handle and the second shaft in the at least two different orientations.
 4. The paddle of claim 2 wherein the first and second pluralities of teeth include triangular teeth or square teeth.
 5. The paddle of claim 2 wherein the handle and the second shaft portion are biased in a first axial position towards each other and are movable to a second axial position away from each other.
 6. The paddle of claim 5 wherein the engageable connection features cooperate with the engager connection features in the first axial position.
 7. The paddle of claim 5 wherein the engageable connection features do not cooperate with the engager connection features in the second axial position, and the handle is rotatable with respect to the second shaft portion when the engageable connection features do not cooperate with the engager connection features.
 8. The paddle of claim 7 wherein the handle is rotatable in both a clockwise and an anticlockwise direction with respect to the second shaft portion when the engageable connection features do not cooperate with the engager connection features.
 9. The paddle of claim 7 wherein the handle is rotatable through 360 degrees with respect to the second shaft portion when the engageable connection features do not cooperate with the engager connection features.
 10. The paddle of claim 7 wherein the handle includes a pin extending into an interior of the second shaft portion, and further including a resiliently deformable member extending between a distal end of the pin and the proximal end of the second shaft portion, the resiliently deformable member biasing the handle and the second shaft portion, in the first axial position, towards each other.
 11. The paddle of claim 10 wherein the resiliently deformable member is a spring or an elastic bushing.
 12. The paddle of claims 1 including an engageable disk having the engageable connection features, wherein the engageable disk is fixed to the proximal end of the second shaft portion.
 13. The paddle of claim 1 including an engager disk having the engager connection features, wherein the engager disk is fixed to the distal end of the handle.
 14. The paddle of claim 1 wherein the handle is a paddle T-handle or a palm-grip handle.
 15. The paddle of claim 5 wherein the handle and second shaft portion are movable to the second axial position, away from each other, by a user gripping the shaft in a first hand and the handle in a second hand and pulling the handle and the second shaft portion away from each other.
 16. The paddle of claim 1 further including cam locking means located within at least one of the first and second shaft portions, the cam locking means providing the rotatable locked and unlocked conditions of the first and second shaft portions.
 17. The paddle of claim 16 including two serial cam locking means offset from one another by 90 degrees.
 18. The paddle of claim 16 wherein, in the unlocked condition, the first and second shaft portions are axially movable in a telescopic manner, and, in the locked condition, the first and second shaft portions are not axially movable in a telescopic manner.
 19. A method of setting up a paddle according to claim 1, by a user, the method comprising sequentially: gripping the first shaft portion in a first hand and the second shaft portion in a second hand, moving the first and second shaft portions away from each other to extend the paddle shaft, rotating the first shaft portion with respect to the second shaft portion and thereby axially locking the paddle shaft in an extended condition, gripping the second shaft portion in the first hand and the handle in the second hand, moving the handle and second shaft portion away from each other, rotating the handle to a desired alignment with a paddle blade, and moving the handle and the second shaft portion towards each other and/or releasing the handle and the second shaft portion.
 20. The paddle of claim 1 wherein the engageable connection features include a first plurality of teeth, the engager connection features include a second plurality of teeth, and the second plurality of teeth are interlockable with the first plurality of teeth for selectively securing the handle and the second shaft in the at least two different orientations. 